Friday May 16, 2008
Fate of mine hinges on definition of word
The fate of a proposed open pit mine in northern British Columbia may hinge on how three judges of the Federal Court of Appeal define the word ''project.''The proposed Red Chris mine would produce 30,000 tonnes of ore a day, and would turn fish-bearing streams into tailings impoundments laced with toxic waste. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
B.C. Place to get retractable roof
B.C. Place, the city's quarter-century-old domed stadium, will get a new retractable roof after the facility's spotlight role as the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
Police accused of seeking some 'dirt' on taser victim
Robert Dziekanski's mother accused the police of looking for ''dirt'' on her son by travelling to his native Poland for background information on the newcomer to Canada who died last fall after being tasered by police at Vancouver International Airport. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
Padded cell restraint violated teenager's rights, jury says
A weeping Willow Kinloch hugged her mother in the courtroom moments after a jury returned a verdict yesterday that found Victoria Police Department officers violated the teen's rights when they restrained her in a padded police cell. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
Community relives its close calls
The fiery helicopter crash that killed four people Tuesday in Cranbrook could have been a lot worse.RCMP spokesman Corporal Chris Faulkner said that given the number of schools, apartment buildings and houses in the residential area, it's incredible the helicopter missed them all. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
Apologies: Ethnic votes or ethics?
When Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko arrives in Canada for an official visit this month, it will be on the heels of a gesture by the Conservative government to commemorate historical injustice against Ukrainian Canadians. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
In defence of Cranbrook
I am appalled by the blatant stereotyping of Cranbrook as redneck and racist (Helicopter Crash Kills Four In B.C. - May 14). I am a 28-year-old professional, raising a family in this beautiful, friendly place, which is far more open-minded than it has been depicted as being in your article. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
A psychologist speaks out
Someone had to state the obvious, and the police psychologist Mike Webster was the right man at the right time. ''I'm embarrassed to be associated with organizations that taser sick old men in hospital beds and confused immigrants who are arriving in the country,'' the adviser to the RCMP told a judicial inquiry into police taser use in British Columbia. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
Region unanimous in rejecting proposed marina
Officials with the Columbia Shuswap Regional District have soundly rejected a controversial hotel and marina project proposed for a former campground near the mouth of the Adams River.Regional district directors voted 6-0 yesterday against a rezoning application that would have cleared the way for West Beach Village, a 218-unit condominium and restaurant development on the shores of Shuswap Lake, about 40 kilometres south of Kamloops. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
Study on native drug users brings elder to tears
A new public health study that looked at more than 500 young aboriginal drug users in two British Columbia cities produced such shocking data that people wept openly when it was first presented to a panel of elders. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
Reduce salmon catches by 50 per cent, panel urges
A scientific panel reviewing management of the Skeena River fishery has concluded that the ocean catch of some salmon stocks should be reduced by as much as 50 per cent and late-season commercial netting near the estuary should be restricted. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
Parts of B.C. face avalanche, flooding risks
Avalanche and flooding risks have increased significantly in time for the May long weekend due to spiking temperatures in the southern half of British Columbia and an unusual late-winter storm dumping more than 100 millimetres of rain along the northwest coast. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
BLUES NOTES: THE WEEK IN QUOTES
The following is a snapshot of activity in the B.C. Legislature this week, with excerpts from ''blues,'' the first draft of Hansard, the official record of all that is said on the floor of the House. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
Third parties loudly boo legislation to tone them down
In fixing something that wasn't broken, the B.C. government has united lawyers, civil libertarians, unions and business in opposition to proposed changes to election spending.Attorney-General Wally Oppal yesterday defended Bill 42 as a pre-emptive move to ensure that the next provincial election won't get ''hijacked'' by third-party interests with deep pockets. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
FLASHBACK: 15 YEARS AGO: 25 YEARS AGO
May 12-17, 1993:Teachers threaten widespread unrestStriking Vancouver teachers remained at odds with school trustees despite the union's overwhelming approval of a mediator's recommendations.Teachers voted 84 per cent in favour of an offer tabled by mediator Brian Foley, only to have school trustees reject the proposed deal by a 4-1 vote. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
B.C. QUOTE
''The Komagata Maru tragedy is a huge black mark in the history of Canada. It's a powerful symbol of the injustices and racism that took place on our land and of the policy of exclusion that was designed to indirectly halt immigration from India.'' From Print Edition, 16/05/08
E. coli scare prompts recall of ground meat
Concern about possible E. coli contamination has prompted the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to issue a recall for packages of fresh and frozen ground meat sold at stores around B.C. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
Native police prepare to combat illegal camping
The alert also covers fresh, lean ground beef sold at Eric's Meat Market in the Kootenay community of Kaslo in early March and between April 16 and May 11. Rowdy campers won't get a warm welcome this long weekend in a Metro Vancouver river valley traditionally known as a wild place to party. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
Liberals could lose office over tax, councillor says
The Ch-ihl-kway-uhk Tribe Society says its officers will strictly enforce a beefed-up section of the Forest and Range Practices Act, setting $115 fines for anyone camping illegally. A northern B.C. politician is predicting the Liberals could lose next year's provincial election if they don't do something about the carbon tax that northern communities say unfairly penalizes them. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
Another torch relay ... another chance to protest?
Tibetan-rights activists are split over whether to protest against the 2008 Paralympic Games torch when it arrives in Vancouver.One group says it's not ruling it out, while another says the Paralympic Games torch relay has no connection to the issue of Tibet and should not be the target of protests. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
New Urbanism's Moses comes to Tsawwassen
The 13th of May brought several downer developments - and it wasn't even a Friday. First, huge layoffs were announced at Canadian auto plants, in large part because our factories turn out vehicle lines tending toward SUVs and light trucks, and Americans have stopped buying both. From Print Edition, 16/05/08
An anchor project for a sustainable community
WaterstoneDeveloper: HJ PropertiesPrice: Starting at $190,000Size: 581 sq. ft. to just over 1,000 sq. ft.Sales centre: 6474 194th St., SurreyContact: 604-530-5399 or www.waterstoneliving.ca From Print Edition, 16/05/08
